Gnaphalium, na-fā′li-um, n. a genus of composite herbs of the aster family, the cudweed or everlasting. [L.,—Gr. gnaphalion, a downy plant.]
Gnar, när, v.i. to snarl or growl.—Also Gnarr, Knar, Gnarl. [From a Teut. root found in Ger. knurren, Dan. knurre, to growl; formed from the sound.]
Gnarl, närl, n. a twisted knot in wood.—adj. Gnarled, knotty, twisted. [From a Teut. root, as in Ger. knurren, Dan. knort, a knot, gnarl, and prob. akin to gnarl in the sense of pressing close together.]
Gnash, nash, v.t. to strike the teeth together in rage or pain.—v.i. to grind the teeth.—n. a sudden snap.—adv. Gnash′ingly. [M. E. gnasten—Sw. knastra, to crash; cf. Ger. knastern, Dan. knaske.]
Gnat, nat, n. a genus of dipterous insects of numerous species, esp. abundant in marshy districts—the female lives on the blood of animals.—n. Gnat′ling. [A.S. gnæt; Ice. gnata, to clash.]
Gnathic, nath′ik, adj. of the jaws—also Gnā′thal.—ns. Gnath′ism, the classification of mankind based on measurements of the jaw; Gnathī′tis, inflammation of the cheek or upper jaw; Gnathoplast′y, the formation of a cheek by plastic surgery; Gnathop′oda, the xiphosura: the arthropoda. [Gr. gnathos, the jaw.]
Gnathonic, -al, nä-thon′ik, -al, adj. flattering. [From Gnatho, a character in Terence's Eunuchus—Gr. gnathos, the jaw.]
Gnaw, naw, v.t. to bite so as to make a noise with the teeth: to bite off by degrees: to corrode or wear away: to bite in agony or rage: (fig.) to torment.—v.i. to use the teeth in biting.—n. Gnaw′er, a rodent. [A.S. gnagan; cf. Dut. knagen, Ice. naga, prov. Eng. nag, to tease.]
Gneiss, nīs, n. (geol.) a species of stratified rock composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica.—adjs. Gneiss′oid, having some of the characters of gneiss; Gneiss′ose, having the structure of gneiss. [Ger. gneiss, a miners' word of unknown origin.]
Gnome, nōm, n. a pithy and sententious saying, generally in verse, embodying some moral sentiment or precept.—Gnomic poets, a class of writers of this form in Greek literature. [Gr. gnōmē, an opinion—gnōnai, gignōskein, to know.]